FORT WORTH, Texas—Nineteen of the fastest horses in the country were honored by the American Paint Horse Association (APHA) with prestigious Racing Champion and World Champion announced at Heritage Place in Oklahoma City, Okla., on January 18. Twelve of these horses were named 2006 Running Champions, while seven were named to the 2006 Honor Roll.

Running Champion awards are given to Paint Horses that demonstrate outstanding athleticism on the racetrack. Selection is based on level of competition, location, races won and earnings for the year. These awards are given in three age categories in both Regular and Solid Paint-Bred Registry divisions. APHA’s Racing committee selects the winners by written ballot.

Honor Roll standings are based on points accumulated by speed index for the racing year. The top horses from each gender division are recognized.

Top honors were awarded to Shez Showin Off as the Regular Registry World Champion and Got Country Grip as the Solid Paint-Bred Registry World Champion.

Shez Showin Off earned $32,838 in 2006, bringing her lifetime earnings total to $76,994. The 2003 bay tobiano mare, owned by Tonya A. Lester of Skiatook, Okla., and bred by Winton Inc. in Charleston, Ark., won four of her eleven starts in 2006, gathering 28 points. The 2006 Regular Registry Running World Champion was sired by Royal Quick Flash and out of Texas Showboat, by Texas Hero.

Paint race horse Got Country Grip made headlines throughout the summer as the “world’s fastest Paint Horse” with his unparalleled career record of 12 wins in 12 starts. The 2003 solid bay gelding, owned by Jimmy Maddux of Weatherford, Texas, and bred by Linda Fox of Maud, Okla., won five of five in 2006 for $55,346. Got Country Grip, whose lifetime earnings now exceed $200,000, was sired by Country Quick Dash and is out of Got A Grip.

APHA also recognized four leading individuals for their contributions to the success of the Paint racing industry.

For the second consecutive year, Maddux was named Leading Owner, with horses accumulating $136, 168. His top-running horses in 2006 include Got Country Grip and Decash, among others.

Another individual with ties to Got Country Grip, Fox was named 2006 Leading Breeder. Horses from her program include Royal Grip, Harry N Jerry and Velosity. This is her first time to be named for this honor, with horses earning $194,268.

The 2006 Leading Trainer, Brandon Parum of Jones, Okla., has held his top ranking for five years running. Horses under his guidance this year, including Got Country Grip, Royal Grip and Flashn Attitude earned $286,959.

APHA’s Leading Jockey is Larry Payne. The Oklahoma City, Okla., rider took horses to winnings of $288,592 in 2006. Horses ridden by Payne include Rio Rojo Jess and Calista Corona.

“We are excited about the 2006 Champions and look forward to following their racing performances in 2007,” said APHA Director of Racing Karen Utecht. “The competition between all age categories continues to get stronger and the level of performance continues to improve each year.

“Congratulations to all of our 2006 Champions and good luck in 2007.”

Regular Registry Running Champions:
2-Year-Old Colt—Gone With The Cash
(Real Easy Cash x By Gone)
Owner: Steve D. Burns, DVM of Menifee, Calif.
Breeder: S.D. Burns & J.G. Markum of Menifee, Calif.
2006 Earnings: $64,597

2-Year-Old Filly
2-Year-Old Champion— Pay The Driver
(Flashin High AQHA x Penny Driver)
Owner: Laural J Ranch of La Junta, Colo.
Breeder: Laural J Ranch of La Junta, Colo.
2006 Earnings: $46,014

2-Year-Old Gelding—Reckless Cat
(Reckless Dash AQHA x Kittawake)
Owner: First Moon Farms of Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Breeder: Chuck or Henry Bowlan of Tecumseh, Okla.
2006 Earnings: $10,922

3-Year-Old Colt—Decash (Real Easy Cash x Deelish AQHA)
Owner: Robert A. Gentry of Lubbock, Texas
Breeder: Robert A. Gentry of Lubbock, Texas
2006 Earnings: $19,489

3-Year-Old Filly
3-Year-Old Champion
World Champion— Shez Showin Off
(Royal Quick Flash x Texas Showboat)
Owner: Tonya A. Lester of Skiatook, Okla.
Breeder: Winton Inc. of Charleston, Ark.
2006 Earnings: $32,838

3-Year-Old Gelding—Living Legacy
(Linear (TB) x Summer Dice)
Owner: Glen E. Wilkinson of Premont, Texas
Breeder: Glen E. Wilkinson of Premont, Texas
2006 Earnings: $10,422

Aged Stallion—Texas Lineage
(Judys Lineage x Go Texas Girl)
Owner: Don Eudy of Midland, Texas
Breeder: Don Eudy of Midland, Texas
2006 Earnings: $13,507

Aged Mare
Aged Champion— Royal Woman
(Royal Quick Flash x Champagne Woman)
Owner: Max Gibb of Alberta, Canada
Breeder: H.T. & Kay Churchwell of Okmulgee, Okla.
2006 Earnings: $18,352

Aged Gelding—Western Snow
(Royal Quick Flash x Western Lineage)
Owner: Ronald Yates & James Skimbo of Fort Smith, Ark.
Breeder: Ronald Yates & James Skimbo of Fort Smith, Ark.
2006 Earnings: $19,598

Regular Registry Honor Roll—
No. 1 Gelding: Treasured Rock
No. 1 Mare: Raising Cash
No. 1 Stallion: (tie) Streaking Lineage and The Brown Bomber

Solid Paint-Bred Registry Running Champions:
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt—Heza Royal Sin
(Royal Quick Flash x
High Society Sin AQHA)
Owner: Rex or Sharon Brooks of Sallisaw, Okla.
Breeder: Rex or Sharon Brooks of Sallisaw, Okla.
2006 Earnings: $21,890

2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly—Angel Easter Flash
(Royal Quick Flash x Senorita Chief)
Owner: James Matthew Wilkett of Stigler, Okla.
Breeder: James Matthew Wilkett of Stigler, Okla.
2006 Earnings: $81,814

2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding
2-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion— Rio Rojo Jess
(Feature Mr Jess AQHA x Call Me Silking)
Owner: Harold Chenault of Rockwall, Texas
Breeder: Donald G. Kelly of Natchitoches, La.
2006 Earnings: $123,069

3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Colt—One Last Hero
(Texas Hero x Tinys Rose Bud AQHA)
Owner: Double Bar S Ranch, LLC of Moreno Valley, Calif.
Breeder: Double Bar S Ranch, LLC of Moreno Valley, Calif.
2006 Earnings: $19,038

3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Filly—Zoom N La Ree
(Shazoom AQHA x Rollin La Ree)
Owner: Martha N. Heidelberg of Lexington, Okla.
Breeder: Martha N. Heidelberg of Lexington, Okla.
2006 Earnings: $32,744

3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Gelding
3-Year-Old Solid Paint-Bred Champion
Solid Paint-Bred World Champion— Got Country Grip
(Country Quick Dash x Got A Grip)
Owner: Jimmy Maddux of Weatherford, Texas
Breeder: Linda Fox of Maud, Okla.
2006 Earnings: $55,346

Solid Paint-Bred Aged Stallion—None Eligible

Solid Paint-Bred Aged Mare—Judys Cash
(Judys Lineage x Takin On The Green AQHA)
Owner: Adam Farias of Cypress, Calif.
Breeder: Jimmy L. Brewer of Shawnee, Okla.
2006 Earnings: $16,171

Solid Paint-Bred Aged Gelding
Solid Paint-Bred Aged Champion— Calista Corona
(Corona Cartel AQHA x Little Sara)
Owner: Charles Trochta & Sammy Hester of Tulsa, Okla.
Breeder: Sammy or Nadine Hester of Tulsa, Okla.
2006 Earnings: $54,456

Solid Paint-Bred Registry Honor Roll—
No. 1 Gelding: BXT Castle Valley PTA
No. 1 Mare: Express Judy
No. 1 Stallion: MCM Aggie Rose

2006 Leading Breeder—Linda Fox of Maud, Okla.
(Earnings: $194,268)
2006 Leading Owner—Jimmy Maddux of Weatherford, Texas
(Earnings: $136,168)
2006 Leading Jockey—Larry Payne of Oklahoma City, Okla.
(Earnings: $288,592)
2006 Leading Trainer—Brandon Parum of Jones, Okla.
(Earnings: $286,959)

More about Paint Horse racing
Horse racing has long been one of America’s favorite spectator sports. With the recent growth of the Paint Horse breed, it’s no wonder that Paints have become one of the hottest tickets in the horse racing industry.

Since 1966, when APHA officially recognized the sport, Paint racing has made major strides forward. In that inaugural year, 17 starters ran for $1,290 in just two states—Texas and Oklahoma. In 2006, more than 600 starters competed in more than 800 APHA-recognized races for record purses totaling more than $5.3 million.

A total of 18 states now feature Paint racing, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington and Wyoming. Paint Horses also race in Canada.

“The future is really bright for Paint racing,” said Lex Smurthwaite, APHA’s executive director. “Owners from other racing breeds are getting involved with Paints because of the strong and steady growth of our program. It is still relatively easy to get involved and be competitive.”
For more information on Paint Horse racing, contact APHA’s racing department at (817) 222-6444, e-mail [email protected], or visit paintracing.com.